Card-assorting machine.



A. S. TREW.

CARD ASSORTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 20. 1912.

Patented Jan. 30, 1917.

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A. S. TREW.

CARD ASSORTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APRLZO. 1912.

Patented Jan. 30, 1917.

4 SHEETSSHEET 2.

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CARD ASSORTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 20, 1912.

Patented J an. 30, 1917.

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CARD ASSORTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 20 I912.

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ARTHUR S. TREW, OF PORTLAND, OREGON.

CARD-ASSORTING MACHINE,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 30, 1911?.

Application filed April 20, 1912. Serial No. 692,146.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR S. TREw, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of Portland, county of Multnomah, and State of Oregon. have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Card- .\ssorting Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to card assorting machines, and more particularly to a machine by means of which cards, tickets, and the like, can be rapidly assorted and distributed into different apartments or pockets.

Among the salient objects of the invention are: to provide a machine of the character referred to comprising in combination a container to receive and hold the cards, an ejector for discharging the cards therefrom, a series of apartments or pockets for receiving the cards in classified order,

and a distributor interposed between said container and said apartments, with mechanism for operating said ejector and said distributcr; to provide in combination with such a device a series of keys with operating connections with said ejector and with said distributer. and by means of which said ejector and said distributer are put into operation; to provide in a machine of the character referred to a series of electromagnets or solenoids. for operating said ejector and said assorter. with a source of electric energy therefor. and with circuit connections including said magnets, whereby the manipulation of said keys operates to connect said source of electric energy with said clectroanagnets, which operate said ejector and said distributer; to provide in such a machine, in combination with the ejector, means for facilitating the discharge of a card from the container, and for throwing it into the distributer; and, in general, to provide a new, practical, and efficient machine by means of which cards, tickets,

and the like, can be rapidly assorted and deposited into classified receiving apartments or pockets by simply manipulating a set of keys, which keys correspond, respectively, with the receiving apartments or pockets.

In order that others may clearly understand my invention, 1 have shown in the accompanying sheetsof drawings one prac tical form or embodiment thereof, which 1 will now describe.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is afront or face view of a container with an 'ejector mounted thereupon; Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view thereof taken on line 22 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an end sectional view of a distributer taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 4, the relative position of the container being indicated in dotted lines; Fig. is a top plan view of the distributer; ,Fig. 5 is a side view of said distributer; '1 ig. (5 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the wiring and electric connections between the keys and the various operating electro-magnets; Fig. 7 is a plan view of a keyboard with binding posts for electric connections; and Fig. 8 is a sectional view through said keyboard. U

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the container which I'have shown for purposes of illustration, comprises a case or frame. 1 with a sight frame 2 in the front portion thereof, through which the faces of cards 3 can be seen. Mounted upon said frames are cross pieces 4 and 5, upon which are mounted clectro-magnets (3('3, with circuit connections: to binding posts TT. Also mounted upon said cross piece r. is a rocking frame 8. pivotally mounted and carrying an armature member adapted to be attracted to said electromagnets (F43, when they are energized, said rocking frame being provided ;at its rearward end with a spring 10 for holding it in a normal, inoperative position. Upon the forward end of said rocking frame 8 is an ejector member 11, adapted to be moved downwardly between thesight frame 2. and the outermost card, said ejector member 11 being provided upon its rear face with a shoulder 12, adapted to engage the outermost or front card and move it down wardly through a slot in the bottom of the container and adjacent the sight frame The cards in the container are pushed forwardly therein by a follower 13, provided at its sides with antifriction guide rolls arranged to move in. the slots 15-15 in the inner faces of the side members of the container. This follower 13, in the present showing. is drawn forwardly by means of a supported weight 16, connected thereto by means of a cable 17, working over a pulley 18. The cards are thus frictionallv held against the sight frame 2. until thc front or outermost card is pushed downwardly by the ejector member 11,

when the electro-magnets 6-6 are energized and the armature Simon the pivotally mounted ejector frame 8, is attracted thereto.

In order to facilitate the ejection or removal of a card from the container I have provided, near the discharge opening or slot in the container bottom, rollers 19 and 20. Roller 19, preferably being the larger, is extended across the front of the container, and is driven, in the present showing, by a small motor 21. The roller 20 is yield ngly mounted in a slide-way 21 and is adapted to be held against roller 19 by a coiled spring 22.

Thus it will be seen that as soon as the front or outermost card is pushed through the opening in the bottom of the container by the. ejector member 12, it is immediately gripped between the rollers 19 and 20, and

thrown downwardly through a guide chute 11, i, 7c, and Z.

I will now describe one means for operating said assorter, and for moving the leaves 2 whereby to open into register with the discharge chute the different passageways leading to the chutes a. b, c, (I, e. f, g, h, i. j, Z. and Z.

(1/,- I), 0, cl, e, g, h. i, j, k, and Z, designate a series of electro-n'iagnets or solenoids, the armatures of which are connected through levers to the ends of said assorting leaves or sheets 24. in a manner which I will now describe. \Vhen these electro1m1gnets'are demagnetized, said leaves rest normally in the positions shown in Figs. 3 and i; that is. six of them lie tothe right. and five of them lie to the left, leaving a middle opening in direct alinement between the discharge chutes 23. and the chute f. below. which leads to one of the receiving pockets, or apartments. not here shown. For this reason there is no electromagnet corresponding with said chute f.

Mounted adjacent each set of electro-magnets. or solenoids, is a pair of long arches.

as 2T2T. carrying adjustment screws' 28-28. at each magnet. between which screws the armatures of the respective mag nets move. By this means the movement of the armatures may be regulated for the purpose of controlling the novement of the various assorting leaves 24. The armatures are designated. respectively. (4 7). c 0?. c The stand 111 a vertical position and are pivotally mounted to turn upon acommon axis-represented as a supporting rod 29, Fig. 5. The lower ends of said armatures are arranged to be attracted by the magnets and to be drawn thereto,'while the opposite ends thereof are extended upwardly for attachment,- through suitable levers and yokes,-to the different assorting leaves 2e. I

In the present arrangement the armatures of the sglenoids on one side, as a Z)".

c (1, and 6 Figs. 3 and l, are connected to the asserting leaves onthe opposite side, while the armatures of the solenoids on said opposite side, as hai j, Z3 and Z, are connected to the assorting leaves on the same side as are the first solenoids. The assort-- ing leaves are each provided With yokes whlch are connected at their ends to the ends of theleaves, and at or near their middles.

said yokes are connected with operating levers connected with the armatures of the upon a rack 32, and levers 7c and Z are ivotally supported upon a rack 33. Said armatures are drawn away from the magnets when the latter are demagnetized by .means of coiled springs, as

Referring now to Fig.7. I have shown a keyboard for controlling .the admission of currentto the several electro-magnets, or

solenoids. there being a key for each magnet of the assorter, and one for the magnet on the container. for operating the ejector. Said keys are designated, respectively, A. I. D. E, F. G. H. I. J. K. and L. said kevs being adapted to be connected in the circuits to the various electro-magnets. through suitable binding posts. as indicated. so that the pressing of a key operates to complete a circuit which includes certain of the electro-magnets of the assorter. and also the magnet for operating the ejector. Key F completes a circuit which includes only the magnet which operates the ejector.

while the assorting leaves are left undisturbed. in their normal positions with the middle passage-way. as shown inFig. open in register with the chute f.

The operation of the embodiment of the. invention which I have just described may be briefly stated as folldwsz'There are 12 of the chutes a to 7. leading to as many different receiving pockets or apartments. and there are 12 keys corresponding therewith.

The operator. by a glance at the face of the front card in the container. shown in Fig. 1, knows into which pocket or apartment it should go. If. for example, it goes through chute (I, he presses the A key, which completes a circuit through the electro-magnets r! I) c (If and the ejector magnets 6t3. This operates to simultaneously draw down the ejector. which pushes said card out of the container and into a position to be gripped by the rollers 19-20. The electromagnets 11 7/ c (1. having been energized. have moved the assorting leaves to a position to open a passage\\'ay from the guide chute 2 3. beneath the rollers l$l; tl. to chute 1/. through which the card is thrown to the desired pocket or apartment. in register therewith. If the card belongs in the pocket fed by chute the F key is pressed and only the magnet on the container for operating the ejector is included in the circuit. The ejector is drawn down and the card is thrown through the middle passageway. which is normally open when all of the electro-n'tagnets of the assorter are demagnetizcd. and th assorting leaves arat rest in the positions shown in Fig. 3. so that the card passes through the assorter to chute and into the proper pocket 0- apartment in register therewith. t iroadly considered. my invention contemplates a container for receiving and holding cards. or tickets. an ejector for pushing the cards out. one by one. an assorter for directing the cards to the proper pockets or apartments. with a keyboard.the keys of which correspond in number to the respective receiving pockets. or apartments and have operative connections. whereby to simultaneously operate the ejector, and the assorter for passing the card from the container to its proper pocket or apartment. I prefer to use electro-magnets. with a source of electric energy". in combination with keys. for accomplishing this function.

Referring now to Fig. (5. I have shown a diagrammatic view of a series of electromagnets. and connections for operating an assorter. including a magnet for operating an ejector. and also including electric batteries. and keys for making and breaking the various circuits which control the ditlerent electro-magnots. T have designated these keys to correspond with the keys shown in Fig. T. namely. l5. D. E. F. (l. II. T. J. K. and L. I have also designated the magnets to correspond with the clectro-nnignets shown in I). 't and 3. namely. a 7/ c (1 c 1/ 72 I" j l? 7. and have designated the magnet which operates the ejector as (Pl). to correspond with the ejector magnet upon the container. shown in Fig. 2. I am. aware that various ('()I1I1Q(' tions can be made from a series of electromagnets for perating an assorter, and also that various forms of assorters can be interposed between the container and the receiving pockets. and I do not, therefore, limit my invention to the particular form of assorter here shown for purposes of illustration. or to the lever connections used there for. 3y pressing the key A. a circuit is completed through the electro-magnets a I) and the ejector magnets 6-43. and the batteries (3 and A. The electro-magnets (1 I) (r (l c operate the assorter. and bring into register with the discharge opening from the container. the proper chute or passage-way leading to the proper pocket or apartment. while the electro-magnet t3. operates the ejector. and starts the card from the container. If the key F is pressed. only electro-magnets o t) are energized. through the battery it. and a card is started from the container through the middle chute or passage-way. which normally opens in register with the discharge opening from said container. 'l y pressing any of the other keys in the diagram. it will be understood. and it can be readily traced upon the drawing. that the ditferent circuits are completed to magnetize and bring into operation the electro-inagncts necessary to operate the assorter. and bring into register with the discharge opening from the container the desired passage-way or chute leading to the proper pocket 0 apartment. It will thus be seen that by pressing any one of the keys. electro-magnets are energized which operate to simultaneously eject a card from the container. and to move the distributer to put into register a passageway therethrough to the desired pocket or apartment.

I do not. therefore. limit the invention to the embmlimcnt shown for purposes of illustration. except as I may be limited by the hereto appended claims. broadly interpreted.

As to the broader aspects of my invention herein disclosed. the same will be claimed in HIV co-pending application Serial No. (315 filed Feb. t. 1917. covering applicant's more perfected type of machine. and which application. so far as common subject-imitter is concerned may properly be considered a continuation of this case. The claims herein retained will be directed to those features of the machine distinguishing the same from said later machine.

I claim;

1. In a machine of the character described. a card container adapted to hold a series of cards in edge-wise position and having an open side. a magnetically operated ejector mounted to he reciprocated vertically in aid t'tlllttllllt l' for ejecting the cards therefrom one by one. '7

i. in a machine of the character described. a card c ntainer adapted to hold a &

series of cards in edge-wise position and having an open side, a magnetically operated ejector mounted to be reciprocated \'er tically in said container for ejecting the cards therefrom one by one, and means for manually controlling said magnetically operated e ector at will.

3. A card ejecting unit for distributing machines con'iprising a container for the cards to be distributed, and means for ejecting the individual cards from the container comprising a card engaging element, and a magnetic actuator for said element mounted on the card container.

4. A card ejecting unit for distributing machines comprising a. container for the cards to be distributed, and means for ejecting the individual cards in a downward direction from the container comprising a card engaging element, and a magnetic actuator for said element mounted upon the top of the card container.

5. A card ejecting unit for distributing machines comprising a container for the cards to be distributed, and means for ejecting the individual cards from the container comprising a card engaging element. an armature associated with said element pivotally mounted on the container. and a magnet also mounted on the container in posi tion to operate the armature.

6. A card ejecting unit for distributing machines comprising a container for the cards to be distributed, and means for ejecting the individual cards from the container comprising a card engaging element. an armature pivoted on the container associated at one end With said element, a spring between the opposite end of the armature and the container for movlng the armature in one direction and a magnet also mounted on the container for attracting the armature in the opposite direction.

7. In a machine of the character described, a. card container adapted to hold a series of cards in edge-wise position, a magnetically operated ejector mounted to discharge a card in a vertical direction, and means for manually controlling said magnetically operated ejector at will, in combination with a plurality of distributing pockets below the container, and switches to deflect the ards to their appropriate containers, said switches being connected to be also actuated by said manually controlled means.

In a machine of the character described, a card containe "adapted to hold a series of cards. means for ejecting the cards individually to discharge the same in a vertical direction, a plurality of distributing pockets, switches below the container adapted to deflect the cards to their appropriate containers, and a series of key actuators each adapted by a movement in one direction to throw the appropriate switch andeoperate the ejector to discharge a card.

9. In a machine of the character described, a card container adapted to-hold a series of cards, means for ejecting the cards individually to discharge the same in a vertical direction, a plurality of distributing pockets. switches below the container adapted to detlcct the cards to their appropriate containers. and a series of key actuators each adapted to eli'ect simultaneous ejection of a card and setting of an appropriate switch. ARTHUR- S. TRFAV. In presence ot'-- HENRY M. KIMBALL, J. C. S'IRl-ING. 

